Contact lenses with embedded labels

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens incorporating clearly identifiable, highly visible embedded labels that are not visible to the wearer or others when placed on the eye may be utilized to allow an individual to easily distinguish between the normal state of the lens and the inverted state of the lens as well as serve any number of functions, including acting as a brand label, a prescription label or as a cosmetic enhancer. The embedded label comprises holographic recordings revealed only in transmitted light.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for fabricating a label for a embedding in a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
 depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate; 
 aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate; 
 arranging a mask on a predetermined position in front of the substrate; 
 exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask; 
 coating the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film; 
 polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film; 
 releasing the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film from the substrate; and 
 transferring at least a portion of the released film to the secondary object. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for fabricating a label for a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
 depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate; 
 aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate; 
 arranging a masked diffractive waveplate in front of the homogenous background on the substrate; 
 exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to a single light beam through the masked diffractive waveplate; 
 coating the homogenous background on the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film; 
 polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film; 
 releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; and 
 transferring at least a portion of the related film to the secondary object. 
 
     
     
       3. A method for fabricating label for embedding in a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
 depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate; 
 creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoalinging release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycliodal polarization pattern; 
 depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern; 
 polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film; and 
 releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; and 
 transferring at least a portion of the released film to the secondary object. 
 
     
     
       4. A method for fabricating a label from cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes for embedding in a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
 depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate; 
 creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoaligning release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern; 
 depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern; 
 polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film; 
 releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; 
 creating flakes out of the polymerized liquid crystal film; and 
 transferring at least a portion of the flakes to the secondary object.